Quasi-adiabatic, membrane-based, highly sensitive fast scanning nanocalorimetry

© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016. We describe the basics of membrane-based fast scanning calorimetry performed under quasi-adiabatic conditions, i.e., with negligible heat losses during the calorimetric scan. The technique achieves extremely high energy sensitivity with monolayer resolution and is ideally suited to investigate surface phenomena as well as transitions in organic and inorganic ultrathin films. In this chapter, we review the several types of membrane-based microcalorimeters currently in use and the principles of the technique, both from the point of view of the main instrumentation and the derivation of the heat capacity of the sample. We also describe some relevant examples of application to highlight the potentiality of the technique. This chapter deals with measurements that are carried with membrane-based nanocalorimeters at fast speed (104-106 K/s) and in high vacuum, so the heat capacity can be directly computed from the input power after some minor corrections.